CASA GRANDE, Arizona — Each October, pilots arriving for the Copperstate Fly-In at the Casa Grande Municipal Airport (CGZ) have been greeted by an enthusiastic crew of FAA air traffic controllers, drawn from facilities throughout the western United States, all proud to have been selected to staff the temporary Copperstate Control Tower. This year, however, things […]
Sporty’s founder to speak at Atlanta Aero Club
Hal Shevers, the iconic founder of Sporty’s Pilot Shop, will be the featured guest speaker at the regular bimonthly meeting of the Atlanta Aero Club Sept. 12. Since founding Sporty’s in 1961, Shevers is one of the most recognizable entrepreneurs in general aviation. Starting with one product he sold out of the trunk of his […]
Spirit Avionics hits milestone
Spirit Avionics’ Global Parts Support Division,based in Columbus, Ohio, recently hit a milestone: Achieving $10 million in global aircraft parts sales in less than a year achieving a 60% increase over last year’s sales. “I tell people all of the time that we are the best kept secret in the industry,” said Jared Kolman, Global […]
Mountain takeoff goes bad
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 2 Minor. Location: Atlanta, Idaho. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land at a mountain airport with an elevation of 5,500 feet MSL. He told investigators that he was unfamiliar with the airport, and he had not read the FAA’s published remarks for the airport in its Airport Facility […]
The distraction meter pegs
It was only recently I learned, with some considerable consternation, that CNN is reviving “Crossfire.” This is a show that ran five days a week on the Cable News Network from 1982 through 2005. In the news release announcing the rebirth of this appalling, pointless, loud, bombastic, repetitive program that is almost completely without merit, […]
Why gas prices aren’t dropping
Your bloggers have frequently reported that our country is now the largest producer of natural gas. We’re a net exporter of refined gasoline and it’s estimated that we will be the world’s largest producer of crude oil by 2020. As a result of the ongoing economic malaise and the continued improvement of gas mileage (primarily a […]
16-year-old solos 10 airplanes in one day, sets world record
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Nathan “Nate” Bruss turned 16 years old on Friday, August 16. He celebrated by soloing 10 different aircraft from Flying Cloud Airport. “The day went great,” said Nate Bruss via email. “The wind picked up towards the afternoon and I had a 5 kt crosswind component, but it was within my […]
Arizona Flight Training Center offers free ground school training
GLENDALE, Arizona — Arizona Flight Training Center (AZFTC) now offers the ground school portion of its private pilot certification for free. “We’re about to see a significant pilot shortage in the very near future,” said Rick Rademaker, president of Executive Aviation. and Chief Flight Instructor for AZFTC. “Combined with the rising costs of expert training, we’re literally seeing […]
Wings Over Houston Airshow takes flight at Ellington Airport
HOUSTON – Vintage warplanes, a special Korean War 60th anniversary tribute, a flight performance by the star of Disney’s “Planes,” the world’s only flying B-29 Superfortress, and world-class aerobatic performers are among the highlights of the 29th Annual Wings Over Houston Airshow, which will be held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26-27, at Ellington Airport (EFD). […]